senator from oklahoma. >> for parliament tear inquire for the clock start here. i understand we have three minutes left on our side. and how many will minutes left on the majority side? >> seven minutes and fifteen seconds. >> okay. i don't see anyone who is seeking recognition over here. so i'll go ahead and take the last three minutes. well, first of all, it's very interesting in all those on the other side who are supporting hagel, senator hagel for being the next secretary of defense. ..

that letter of solidarity for israel. the same. the same thing as a clearing the rain and revolution guard a terrorist group. he was one of only four who did that. so i would only say, this is not a filibuster. everybody knows it's not a filibuster. i hope the media is listing that they are. this is the same thing required by the democrats and the cases john doe tim steve johnson, the case of rob portman. it is the prerogative of the senate. it's not a filibuster. they nearly won a 60-vote margin. i commented earlier that we had

a republican in the white house in a majority in the senate. i was here and never objected to that. then of course you had kathleen sebelius right now, cabinet position. secretary of commerce john brace and objected to him. so the only issue here is the 60-vote margin. it's not a filibuster on the last thing i say is i will read again to their last speaker and are very good friend is the chairman of the committee when he said the other day and i wholeheartedly agreed, every member should add his or her voice to the demand for production of relevant documents, which senators need to decide on confirmation. i agree with that. some people don't object to some of the things he's done. but we do object to is the

process that we have members who would make request for information fully relevant to this appointment and are unable to receive that. i will stand up as the minority, ranking minority for the rights of every single minority member that would stand up for the rights of every majority membranous process. >> senator from michigan. >> i yield myself to balance at the time. the questions that have been to provide materials of the three categories. about benghazi, that those questions have been answered for her quest for senator hagel's speeches have been provided and relative to financial disclosure , the disclosure, which is required by the rules has been provided.

the statement made by one of our colleagues about capital is a statement, which frankly is out of balance, inappropriate for anyone to be asked, when he is an adviser to a perfectly legitimate and an equity fund, which is perfectly legitimate members of the board and there is no evidence in the person making the innuendo imagine the saudi arabia or any other place. so much for information provided for any nominee of recent memory has had to provide everything we can to do it. in terms of the qualifications for senator hagel. this comes from secretaries of state, national security advisers, secretaries of

defense. secretary albright, secretary of defense brown, national security advisor presents he was secretary of defense cohen, secretary gates, national security adviser john's secretary of defense player, national security by assuming island come secretary of defense payer, secretary of state shultz, national security adviser scowcroft. this is what they say. this is the validation. we try senator hagel, believing as qualifications. but these are people outside of their spotty and here's what they say from this time managing a quarter million employees during the reagan presidency turning around the financially troubled world to shepherd in the post-9/11 g.i. bill and most recently for service on the defense policy board at the pentagon and intelligence advisory board, chuck hagel is uniquely qualified to meet

challenges of defense and effort he put into the record many statements in support of senator hagel. this is what he says relative to a rant. iran poses a significant threat. >> please take your conversations outside the chamber. senate will proceed. >> no one talks about position on iran. poses a significant threat to the united states and interest in the region and globally. iran pursues an illicit nuclear program with the threats to provoke a regional arms race. and is fully committed to the quote preventing iran from obtaining new layer but then to achieve that goal and relative to israel, he's a strong supporter of israel, deputy minister he is a good friend of

israel and in the word of dna alone says he believes and is not talking a senator hagel in the natural partnership between israel and the united states as part of the volume of defense relations between israel and the united states, which are so important to both countries. now the only question is what we're voting on. what we are voting on here is to have a filibuster. a good friend from oklahoma says it's not a filibuster, but the definition of a filibuster under rules is when you say you're going to continue to talk unless they're 60 votes to end debate. that is upper voting on. it's cloture. and if we get closer today, there will be another vote on the nomination of senator hagel and the proof of that is good for republican senators stan appeared today and see what they're going to vote against

cloture today, that they are going to vote for cloture a week from this tuesday. that is a procedural vote if i ever heard it. they are still going to vote against his nomination, but they have decided they will vote for cloture a week from tuesday. that's the difference between the process for 208 and the nomination itself. what we decide here today is whether a filibuster will continue. that is the rule speaking. that's the rules provide for. you need 60 votes to end debate. has there ever been a requirement before by opponents of the nominee that there be 60 votes? has this ever happened in history? not to nominee for the defense department. for other cabinet, there had been in the past requirements set by opponents or to stop talking have to get 60 votes. that only means what the rules

say it means that under the rule that conversation debate does not and if the opponents insist on it and be 60 votes. that is what i hope we can bring to an end today. if we don't bring it to an end, there'll be another 30 week from tuesday. this is too important a question. they are too severe to the disposition in this ambiguous state between now and a week from tuesday were never the final vote on final passage or approval of this nomination is. the road is too dangerous to have the spirit of uncertainty. we have provided documents, which have been required. the information relative to the financial situation has been provided. it is time now to bring the debate to an end with 60 votes

and hopefully if we can get 60 votes today from a vote on the final approval of this nominee. if 60 votes aren't there today, the majority leaders made it clear he would then of course reconsider the cloture petition a week from tuesday. either way is critically important for senator hagel's confirmation tape place and that we feel this is secretary of defense. [inaudible] >> time is expired.

>> to 2013 seeded andean nations address

>> america and its president, jefferson keel looks at native american tribes in the sequestration pet is scheduled to go into effect next month. his remarks came at the annual seeded andean nations address at the museum in washington d.c. senate indian affairs committee chairman maria cantwell spoke at the event. it's an hour and 15 minutes.

>> good morning. i am avalon dawson, executive director of the national congress of american indians. the oldest and largest native american advocacy organization representing indian country alaska natives and interests of the tribal government and communities. i am also pleased to welcome our distinguished guests in washington d.c. and those listening around the country to the 2013 state of andean nations. across the country, students, teachers, businesses have gathered to watch this event together. among many events we are pleased to be joined by students from the laguna middle-school, boys and girls club have a greater scottsdale tribes like the

muscogee creek nation, confederate tribes in the tele, reservation and hosting tribal parties brought this is by many areas of the country have also pleased to be joined by the college of the nomination, the american indian college fund. these are just a small selection of events happening today and they want to thank them and all of you for joining us. we have an incredible turnout here in washington d.c. and i like to acknowledge your guess in the studios of distance-learning. and the administration which showed it a lot in the white house. dr. ruby doe from hs, lillian sparks administration are native americans and also representatives of key federal agencies that include the department of agriculture, congress, homeland security, interior, justice, labor and

epa. we are delighted to be joined by congresswoman betty: in the senate committee of indian affairs and staff from senators begich, heitkamp and countless office. were honored to be joined by the head councilman, joe garcia who's also on our board as well as larry thompson on her word and vice president from the round valley chad from the national museum of american and, byron dorgon from the native american years, clara pratt and the navajo nation washington office, kiki carroll from the southern and eastern tribes, chris metcalf in the alaska native corporation and chairman ernie stevens, who by the way has never missed the seeded andean nation. we're also joined today by two

indigenous leaders from australia. nigel brown and every act he. would like to thank them for joining with us. we also had some ncai partners have said a vendor country. alice warner vocalic foundation, judith brown from the advancement projects, ralph ever from the trade center political and economic studies. as you can tell by all the red in the audience, today is valentine's day and i am sure that after this event today, you'll love sovereignty more than you ever have before and even when you first met. it started than a great ekwaingn tuesday, senate pass events against women that. reauthorizing more than three quarters of the u.s. senate approving the bill that included key provisions for native women. our victories notches in the

united states. today is the day. activists around the world will be hosting events as part of the one alien rising to end violence against women and girls. finally, i want to thank the many tribal and public radio stations across the country for any today's address. bring in the state of andean nations to hundreds and thousands of people in any country and beyond. now it is my pleasure to introduce the president of the national american indians. jefferson keel. currently oklahoma u.s. army officer with over 20 years of active duty service and is translated that into a sense of duty and serving indian country and protect in advancing our sovereignty. over his two terms, he is been a

two state for indian country. president keel has met with president upon and engaged at the president's cabinet and traveled overseas to educate foreign leaders about our unique nation-to-nation relationship. he has championed health care, were tired with the promise of the travel a lot harder act of mother church for the most successful the campaign ever. ladies and gentlemen, please let me welcome the president of the national congress of american indians, jefferson keel. [applause] >> thank you. good morning. members of the national congress of american indians, members of the administration, members of congress, tribal leaders, so citizen and fellow americans. as president of the congress of

american indians is one of more than 5 million american indians and alaskan natives of the 566 federally recognized tribal nations in many states recognize governments of indian country, it's an honor to speak today. native americans are as diverse as america is so an array of cultures, with its own proud history. and all of our stories and traditions, struggles and try and so woven into the fabric of america. every day we're reminded of how far we've come in the creature and we have ahead of us. and though we clocked her crows and overcome great challenges and tragedies, or future holds great promise. today, indian country is strong. [applause] i could not always stand here and tell you that. when i was a young boy, my

family like many others for poor, just barely scraping by. we started working, peanuts, corn crops, i saw neighbors working hard to build better lives for the families, parents and grandparents maintaining culture from traditional food, and in giving ceremonies and celebrations of life and death, pass it on the timeless values of our tribe, even when the federal government told us we had no right to exist, we stay true to ourselves. still, times are tough. people sometimes wondered if our best days are behind us. through it all, we carried on, forging new bonds to strength in our nation. in fact, that's why it was

started in 1844 but tribal innocence and later stood together to speak as one voice for america's nations to protect her sovereignty, to affirm our rightful constitutional place in the american family government. their work to unify and mobilize tribes rippled through indian country. my own community started to work on as an advocate and committed ourselves to carry non-division of our fathers and mothers who signed the original treaties protect teen tribal sovereignty. that vision guided us to a new era in governance, self determination, where governments are once again able to run their governments without interference. this new era was transformational. when i came home from vietnam, i witnessed the optimum of leadership in their own

community. the energy of people make their own decisions. the pride of a tribal nation unleashing its own potential. in many ways, mannix aaronson tribes experience reflects not just advances, but aspirations that communities might drive in the global economy that might achieve their dreams and today, more than other, this aspirations are within our reach. they assert greater trust between tribal nations in the united states, we are in a moment of real possibility. president obama and his administration have a partner to tribal sovereignty who believes in a right to determine our course and understands what we've always known to be true, the indian nations are best government for indian people.

[applause] this partisanship, partnership extends throughout the federal government on both sides of the aisle because indian issues are not partisan issues. the result has had a measurable impact. today, more trades are managing resources instead of managing poverty programs. residents of rural oklahoma transfer health facilities first because they offer the best services around. other governments see traditional knowledge of resources, non-native people com2 s. for jobs and educational opportunities in companies partner with us to set it in businesses and reservations. it's no wonder more highly skilled and educated native young people are coming back to serving our communities as doctors, lawyers, teachers, engineers, entrepreneurs and revitalizing our economies,

tribes are key players in america's economic recovery. my tribe. the chickasaw nation. [applause] the chickasaw nation contributes $2.5 billion to original economy every year and employs over 12,000 people. at the same time, we are seeking a proactive approach to budgeting and stewardship so we are more reselling it. the nation-to-nation relationship we enjoy it as tribal nations has never been confined to quarters of the united states in thanks to more international trade agreements but tribal leaders, our businesses and many of those other tribes reach all around the globe. at the same time, our people's dedication to america has never been stronger. last year, i stood and called for native americans to get out

the vote in indian country or spine like never before. civic engagement campaign native vote was the biggest most successful in our 70 year history. a massive grassroots campaign volunteers, young and old knocked on doors, registered voters codger people to the polls and help turnout the highest number of native voters either. [applause] they did this, even though our people still have an equal access to the polls. too many native voters traveled distances only to be turned away. even as we applaud efforts of the 2012 movement, we know this is just the beginning and we have much more to do to ensure that every native vote is cast and counted. our commitment to democracy

stretches beyond the ballot box to distant shores were every day thousands of men and women fight proudly under the american flag. to do more than trying to guess an active-duty native warriors and more than 156,000 veterans, i salute you. america salutes you. [applause] we are grateful for your service. every day in ways big and small, we are strengthening the unique nation-to-nation relationship with the united states. the relationship of mutual respect and trust. we've come a long way, but there is much more work to do and i'm convinced now more than ever that we must protect and then tribal sovereignty. that is how we will meet our three shirt rolls, to skewer communities can secure our

nation and secure our future. first, securing our community. there's nothing more important to tribal leaders in safety and well-being of tribal citizen, that today one in three native women would be in her lifetime. almost four in 10 will be beaten and abused by domestic partner. the death rate of native women unsung reservations is 10 times the national average. the numbers are so high, snowman. but violence against women is not a cultural is. it's a criminal is. that's why we don't tolerate it. tribes can do pursue justice against men who create these acts, but that's not enough. we know that assaults against native women tend to take place at private residences. that many native women than on

tribal lands that almost 60% of native women are married to non-native men. we know of this, yet we also know the tragic reality. today, tribes do not have the authority to prosecute non-native suit beach or even kill women on tribal land. authorities are often hungry away to investigate crimes. in recent times, u.s. attorneys have declined to prosecute a majority of fat crimes in indian country, most of which are related to abuse. no other cover would stand for this or continue in just days. no other government showed coming out the government has to. solution is simple. congress must reauthorize landmark violence against women act and assure the tribal government have authority to

prosecute non-native men accused of violence against women on tribal lands. in other words, congress must allow tribes like all other governments to protect their surrounding community from brutality. so if we believe a native from inside his birth the same as every other one in, if we believe justice should not stop at the border of a reservation, if we believe tribes are truly sovereign, it's time for the house of representatives to step up, put partisan politics aside to reauthorize the act with expanded protections for all but been of violence. then we will join the people around the world and dancing in support of movement. congress has demonstrated it understands the importance of tribal sovereignty. assign the 1970s they passed the child welfare act to ensure that families have the ability to protect their children.

it is that congress recently that there is tribal leaders to directly seek a presidential disaster declaration come a critical tool for government to secure community. as for the states has joined for than 140 members of the united nations and acknowledging that indigenous peoples are entitled to free prior and informed consent on decisions that affect our nations. disrespect for nation-to-nation relationship must extend to other issues that impact indian country, including immigration. what many may not realize is almost 40% are located on or near the borders of mexico and canada, which means tribes have jurisdiction over some of the areas most affected by immigration policy. these issues directly impact the lives of our citizens and tribal

nations must be at the table of the federal government considers common sense immigration reform. transit visa immigration for over 500 years and we know it has its challenges. but to ask, this isn't just a policy issue. it's a moral one. we believe the arc of justice must stretch on the first americans to the newest americans. [applause] as we continue to secure communities, we also secure nations. our nations range more than 200 remote villages to return the citizens make up 20% of the state population to the navajo nation and the southwest, with over 300,000 citizens in a land base of 17 million acres. from alaska to arizona, california to connecticut, tribal lands cover over

100 million acres, which would make the fourth-largest state. this is in trust by the federal government. it was supposed to protect indian land from infringement in isolation. unfortunately, that trust, our trust is broken too many times. the funds used to maintain trust are grossly mismanaged. not just once or twice, but over and over for decades and decades. it was a fraud that added to billions and billions of dollars in opportunity lost for generations of native people. last year the federal government finally resolve the issue. while it doesn't erase the past repair the damage, it does cause a painful chapter in our history. that relationship continues to grow after show hundred years of

disputes, settlements are tribal rights to water which are critical to economic development for community, livelihood and people's health. messmer much be done to restore the trust relationships. the supreme court decision overturned a bond prices and threaten economic future by amending federal authority for any tribes. this cannot stand. congress must pass a fix right now. [applause] i nations have enormous potential. tribal lands boast almost 25% of america's onshore oil and gas resources in one third of the call. if they represent less than 5% of current national energy

production. why? because of the seat restrictions. fortunately, new federal policies are addressing this barrier, enabling tribes to develop their own sources of energy. the goal is to transfer on tribal lands and boost economic growth, while contributing to america's energy independence. for instance, the los angeles city council approved a 25 year $1.5 billion project to buy a solar power produced at the indian nation in the southern nevada desert. when it goes online in 2016, it will be the largest solar power plant on tribal land. capturing race to power over 118,000 los angeles homes. in addition to the plan itself, over 900,000 solar panels will be built on a reservation, creating more jobs in industries that tomorrow.

one way to ensure projects like this is to promote fair, equitable tax policy. like all government, tribes must collect and manage their own taxes. right now, tribal governments don't have the same taxing authority by states. a flock of governments, we will continue working with federal partners to fix these policies have the economies grow and become a source of strength and her family of nations. sovereignty is how we secure communities and how they can secure nations and how we will secure future. this is our greatest challenge. a quarter of people in poverty, traced the national average and while the country as a whole struggles with an unemployment rate hovers around 80%%, the unemployment rate is more than

double that, almost one in five native people don't have basic phone service and thousands more don't even have plumbing. for too long, the statistics have been accepted as the way it is in indian country. the goal is survival. but we must do better in the tribes develop their own priorities and make the right investment, they don't just survive, they thrive. the seminoles of florida, more and more tribes are driving economic growth for the nations and surrounding community. even the most remote regions, tribes play a role in economic developments. for example, tribes generate $21.8 million annually is one of the top employees in southeast alaska, a huge boon to economic

activity and as i said come in many tribes going global. the tribe of washington has lived on the central puget sound for thousands of years. nobody knows how to fish those letters that are. today, weren't the latest diving gear with gps devices, native divers explore the waters to catch geoduck. the world's largest clam. more importantly, it's a delicacy in chinese cuisine. the former co-op was a number of tribes to export for as much as $50 per pound. it's an incredible example of how traditional knowledge is applied in a new world here -- is one example. multiply that orange premiership or hundreds of tribes, growing, making, providing services are selling products around the

world and it adds up to unprecedented progress and prosperity for our people. we'll continue doing our part to be practiced or is the future, rather than simply react to the federal government's actions, tribes are thinking, planning ahead can making decisions to withstand economic uncertainty and it's paying off. with the wind at our backs, when nato leaders to stand with us. we will advance america's prosperity. we urge congress for education, housing, roads, lines first minute energy development. the trust responsibility is not a line item that we are not a special interest group.

[applause] we urge congress to acknowledge constitutional responsibility to honor our sacred trust by holding tribal governments harmless in the sequestering beyond. in the state of the union address just two days ago, the federal government must keep the promises they vardy made. [applause] because this moment is about creating opportunity for children and grandchildren with 42% of 25, we must take steps to stronger generations. that's why countries invest in education so more young people can receive a higher education and develop skills to access greater opportunities. gaming is one example of economic development is generated funds to invest in

goals and provide a means of scholarships. in fact in the past 30 years, the number of american indians and college is more than doubled. we still have a long way to go. today, ncai is releasing standard or futures. it shows areas where tribes are exercising their sovereignty right now, prevent economic success to their surrounding communities. the path to securing future from education to food security, climate change workforce development is eliminated by proven success of tribal nations. and while the circumstances of each of the unique, the promising practices contained in the report offer a way to secure economies and sustain prosperity

for future generations. in my final year as president of ncai, share this vision of a strong future, knowing it will be carried forward, not just in the year ahead, but for generations to come. when i look back on our journey as the first people of north america and where we are today, my heart is with pride. we are on course to those who came before us of our elders to preserve against all odds we stand strong today and strong wherever. our nations have been here a long time. we were a people before we the people. [applause] we engage in commerce.

we shaped american democracy. in some of america's darkest chapters he said with their non-native others and sisters in the depths of the depression. terminations rebuilt our community when our homelands were attacked, warriors stepped forward as they always have to defend our shared, sacred ground, the united states of america. for these reasons in so many more coming nations have been a wellspring of hope and strength to our fellow americans. indeed, i unique place in the family of government makes this a model for nations around the world and an inspiration to indigenous people across the globe. but i think about our shared future, i'm reminded of some thing the late senator, it daniel inouye once said. and i quote, i can't think of anything more critical from your

past year present for cheaper future than their sovereignty. senator inouye did not come from a tribal community, but he took up our cause advocating for nations because he believed he was a matter of justice. he knew america was not her strongest when oliver governments are together to advance security and prosperity. when all her people were thriving, he understood a sovereign people are a strong people, contributing intern to start united states. he knew native people were fighting for the same inalienable rights by each of our creator, the rights to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. these are the same principles and why our constitution acknowledges tribes is equal sovereign governments. today you can see them in action

in tribal court in college is and businesses all over the world. this is the task at hand. should have a more perfect union, to strengthen our relationship with the united states, from washington to kennedy, reagan to obama, they avert to uphold his promise. that trust ultimately is the principle that must guide us, all of us as we go forward and do right by all of our children and grandchildren and when we do, we will always be able to say the state of indian is strong in the prosperity of america is secure. thank you. [applause]

[applause] >> it is my honor to introduce, senator maria cantwell. mr. cantwell represents the great state is washington. she represents 29 tribes and almost 165,000 native people. senator cantwell is one of the many success stories. she was elected in 2000 with strong tribal support, beating senator slade gorton by 2229 votes. she served on the indian affairs committee sent surfers during the senate.

throughout her service to his work to promote economic growth and advance sovereignty. last month, senator cantwell became the first chair of the committee were delighted to ever provide the professional response to today's stated indian nations. please show me in welcoming, chairwoman maria cantwell. [applause] >> well, thank you, president keel for that wonderful address and leadership at the national congress of american indians. i think you clearly laid out some of the biggest opportunities we face, working together in this new congress. i see my colleague is here, the farmer kameny, senator byron dorgan, thank you for leadership on the indian affairs committee.

[applause] i'd like to say a special hello to thousands of children watching throughout the country. you are the future leaders of our country and we certainly need you. i'd also like to recognize two members of the congress or american indians for my home state, chairman of the jamestown tribe who is a treasure and the court mall nation who subvert this area vice president. i know the both of them are strong members of ncai and i look forward to working with them in this new capacity. in his speech, president keel spoke of the indian nations and futures. this survives me of late chief seattle once saidcommandeers does not does not belong to us, we belong to the earth.

the sons and daughters of the earth. we are merely strands in it and whatever we do to that web, we do to ourselves. from the first reviews, federal government has acknowledged native people are the stewards of our land. native people have lived off the land and in harmony with the earth and its resources for thousands of years. you have a strong voice that needs to be part of the national dialogue and when it comes to seeking solutions, whether its natural resources are subsistence or climate change, we all need to work together. president obama stated his speech this week when he said, quote, the state of our nation is stronger. in many ways, we were able to say the stated indian country stronger, today that was 50 years ago. tribes have greater economy and

managing resources, preserving cultures in utilizing land base. these accomplishments have come about for many reason. one, what honor treaties. two, we respect government to government relationship and have grown together working to make sure we can achieve all that is necessary. one of my goals is the chairwoman of affairs committee is to make sure the indian country grows even stronger. by working together with president keel and other leaders, we will work hand-in-hand to accomplish many things in 2013. i am so proud a few days ago we were able to pass out of the united states senate the violence against women act, with the strong vote in any tribal division important to making sure the federal government and

tribal government worked together to closely read up this issue of domestic violence and tribal reservations. [applause] unfortunately, we were able to defeat to harmful amendments that would've watered down the rights of tribal women. with the very strong vote of 78 tonight 22, we are not sending legislation to the house of representatives; them to take immediate action to pass this important legislation. [applause] pass in the violence against women act that of the united states senate, passing the relief that with a particular tribal recognition and it, we've started 2013 on a good foot. but there is much work to be

done during this congress. the native american housing self determination act this year. we have a farm bill would need to reauthorize. elementary and secondary school that expired in 2008 is well past its due date for authorization. making sure tribes and a fairway and tribal taxation issues that we must address the cheap as the supreme court decision, which affected tribes in its ability to take land into trust. for me, this issue is simple. i look at my home state of washington for senator danny inouye work tired on a land claim settlement. they gain the resources they need to bring economic opportunity to the region.

now a payroll of over 3500 people, 74% of them who are not native. in last year, past the landfill for the quill youth and hope tribe out of harms way for a potential tsunami for the constant funds that with every single year. i'll never forget when i had one testified before the senate said kameny, i asked them how close they were to the pacific ocean. they said some transistor at the back door and sometimes it's right under the window. we need to move them to higher ground so this issue of making sure tribes can take land into trust be part of communities for economic resources and their own well-being is an important critical issue.

thank you. [applause] that's why i feel so strongly that congress needs to pass a tertiary six. this is one of the top priorities for the senate in the in affairs committee completed the guy work on it. the national congress of american finance was established in 1944 chemist to bring in waste to native people and of course the treaties the treaties that have been signed and these treaties live on in our relationship that is a tribal government to federal government relationship, which i say is a very mature relationship. it is treaties, constitution and federal law. president kill stated indian country is strong. that is true, but it's only as strong as their leadership and we need to continue that leadership. i would like to read part of the

statement from a suquamish later, an early leader. maybe some of your member had. he was the first native american legislator in washington state senate in 1951 convention on the national congress of american indians of the following, quote, 370 treaties compelled to sign and ratify archrival and little inheritance. they represent the blood, the cheers and the lives of many ancestors and their the promissory note for a great and strong nation. subsistence of people say those treaties were good for all mankind and as long as the waters flowing grass grows and the sun rises in the east and sets in the last, we are promised their substance him a shot remain important to us, and

quote. so he urged her fellow tribal leaders to guard them and protect them, to make sure there is opportunity for the future. so i'm asking us today in 2013, to renew at that great tribal leader said from a state. i am doing my part because it just so happens because his great granddaughter will be the staff director of the indian affairs committee. [applause] so to gather, we'll work to make sure we honor these words of winston, get down to business and do all we can for the next generation of americans to make sure they have the tools for economic opportunity for the future. in washington state, our state motto is an indian word that means hope for the future. let's start up 2013 with much

hope for the future. thank you again for inviting me today. [applause] >> at this time, we are open for questions and answers. we also will be taking questions from those on our web, with my handy ipod. and so we will go ahead and do that. thank you for listening and being a part of the stated indian nations. we have any questions? yes, president garcia. >> thank you for the address. it's an honor to be here. the question relates to water rights. we are going through a series of

litigation in the state of new mexico now. the issues have common states on the way to get out of mitigating what the federal government and changes in federal autologous state they need to come up with 50% of the funding in order to make a settlement on whatever amount that is. this stance say case closed because we ain't got the money. what to put those in this case to a situation like that? got to be in washington d.c. >> thank you. i'm not sure what the answer is other than some type of federal legislation that would remedy

that. over card with indian affairs on legislative associate and try to reach a remedy, but i'm not sure what the status would be. it's certainly something we'll take a thinner coming year. thank you for that question. if you ask me something i can answer, i am going to turn to the encyclopedia here. next question. >> i want to add water rates. the indian country's regions, 11 of those has made one of their staff priorities. issues of water rates safe water are major issues, but mostly importantly at the local level, governments are engaged when

they have discussion and water commission and senate looking at allotments around water and agreements that tribal governments are included at the table for those things. other questions? we do have a microphone if you could announce herself in her year with. >> and sephia redneck with the american independent. my question regards lack of access to surveys. i want to know how best to address currently. >> thank you for the question. we do have a major initiatives underway, working with the fcc, looking at other avenues and how it can wreck to fridays. we talk about the great digital divide, there are regions across the country that do not have

access to the great. we are working to get satellite communications of. i know that jeffrey blackwell works at fcc has done a lot of work in researching not been trying to get answers for us. but we are working in making progress on that initiative. i'm not sure what you cannot do that. >> on two fronts. one is telephone penetration as well as access to the technology, brought in an indian country and both are critical. one for safety and security reasons have been working with the various departments having to do with making sure we have access to 9-1-1. only a couple years ago the former chair of the american indians tried can't access to 9-1-1 and california.

it's not like someplace we normally hear about having trouble like navajo alaska villages. so they know this is a prevalent problem in indian country. other questions? there in the back. >> were not friendly recognized tribe and i'm only 25. 25 years -- [inaudible] >> what is the process for recognized nationwide have we not had any hope in this national congress for federal recognition, not for our tribe and other tribes that are recognized. i'd like to see leadership in the congress and other tribes

can help recognize. >> that's a great question. many state number one, it's an inclusive organization. the national congress does not exclude any tribal government. we realize there are tribes that have been recognized in terminated by the federal government. there is a federal recognition process that tribes go through to become or be recognized by the federal government. some tribes have gone through the state and are recognized by their state governments. it's a very difficult process, a tenuous process of the federal recognition process that i'm talking about. ncai does support that process.

i can just tell you we are working on that. we have a federal recognition task orders at ncai the work specifically on that issue. there are members here it's in the audience that serve and i know they'll be glad to meet with you at the conclusion of this to maybe have her direction for assistance, but were obviously willing to help. thank you. >> addict to take a question out for whenever a online viewers, who of course is a well-known journalist for indian country. his question his friends in congress were indian programs, but not medicaid come a funding source is growing. how to get them to look at the big picture? >> well, medicaid and medicare is one of those issues can be

very sensitive topic in america, not just indian country, that medicaid is a state program. the medicare program obviously has. i know that secretary sebelius has encouraged states to get on board and work with tribes to develop a policy. and the next week will be some consultations with cms and others to talk specifically about medicaid and how it is implemented. with the affordable care act, we have an expert to talk about the affordable care and the health care improvement act. sometimes those provisions don't necessarily line up in some medicaid is one of those double work with the state exchanges and federal exchanges over

together to eliminate a lot of barriers to indian people will see in registering and accessing the medicaid program. but we are working on that. i know it's a difficult process. secretary sebelius has encouraged the states to get on board and work with the tribes. >> i know we have one over here. right here. >> i'm curious as ncai is working with tribes in ihs facilities to prepare for sequestering if so, what specifically are you doing? >> we can start by talking about

sequestered. one of the things originally we had thought facilities were exempt from sequestered, but later found out that was not interpreted as a way we thought it was interpreted. so like ihs facilities, one thing is things they need to do, to things that give them examples to be able to actually inerrant communities address challenges during economic challenging times. but we also work with congress to be able to address these protections because it's not just facilities, although it's critical for line for snack, health care, that education systems dependent upon federal resources to maintain that we don't want to change law enforcement officers and not the other healer sick if we don't

address sequestered. we have a budget vote, budget briefing that is part of the press kits. we've been very aggressive and we hope people help us with doing that. i'm not now, we've been talking with tribes about exactly management, how to take on principles and scale to the most critical and needs to be efficient and effective its use of federal offense if you have have in our community. >> for me just say, the sequester in real terms will affect communities are they down at the clinical level. it will affect whether or not a young mother may or may not be about to health care for her unborn child. don't ask us whether or not

alter the people will be able to afford medicaid or go to the doctor. will affect human minds to the community level. not just in washington d.c. not just in the urban areas, but everywhere across america. is it necessary? travel government understand that america needs smaller, and more efficient government. we don't argue that point. what we are concerned with is when you look across the board if these cuts and you take a percentage, regardless of whether p6, eight, 10% of the funding that provides for the health care education, the quality of life that our people enjoy today and some people in some places are struggling

already. it will even worse than not. so in my mind, not just in my mind, i'll agree that the leaders that have come forward already, we've asked the federal government extend tribal governments and tribal health care facilities and programs to the sequester. we will work with congressional leaders in the federal government and partners in every way that we can to make sure we're doing things more efficiently and more expeditiously to provide for the services. we can't afford those types of services archives across the board in indian country. we simply can't afford that, so we are asking once again the federal government to exempt nations from the sequester cuts. i know that may not sound to

send old and are minded is simple. thank you. >> already. i have another question online here. given the conversation, tracey morris asked the question, what about this nationbuilding play as an exercise of sovereignty? [inaudible] >> nationbuilding, that's a good turn. thank you for that question. when we talk about sovereign nations and exercising our sovereign rights, sovereignty is not something -- first of all we need to understand what it really means. sovereignty is not something nations for granted by the federal government or united states of america.

our sovereign status suspected ties and affirmed in the constitution of the united states. so it is a constitutional name and our rights as sovereign nations allow us to determine their own futures. it allows us to not just build our own communities, but manage our own resources. everything from land, people and resources, but we talk about national and human resources. one of the most precious resource is our children and our children's future. we must determine whether community needs are. tribal leaders, tribal nations for more than qualified to do that. they have been doing it since the mono. we need the government to stand with us and support us in that

endeavor and we can do that. so when we talk about nationbuilding, we simply want to continue to enable our tribal governments and communities to seek and reach that same model of independence, not just financial independence, but would like to have this independent, just like everyone else in america. thank you. >> i have another question in this one comes through our face the. we have lots of people watching in different ways. this is for chuck seems to have an incentive to his bia have for purchases within the 10 year time frame? >> read that again. >> one consented to his bia have to ensure the funds are sent down for purchase within the 10

year time frame? so within that element, there is a variety of things put in place. one of the most important things was that allowed for the repurchase of land so we could solidify the lambasting our tribal communities. the department of interior is steadily moving forward. i've actually met with the special master this helping to organize some of the payment options. one of the most important in areas as they put together that land, portions of that money builds a scholarship program and initiative for future generations. so it's important to indian country. it's a balancing piece that brings together the tribal

communities to purchases and repurchasing, but also then as an incentive to allow for this to move forward for the future generations, for the seven generations to come. >> for me just add one thing when you talk about what incentive does bia have? that's what the law says they must do, so they don't really have a choice. it is a matter they simply need to do what they're told and this is tribes. this allows tribes to repurchase those lands so that tribes can then take those plans and use those for the best efforts. ..

it raises a constitutional issue. but i know that the congressman has said in answer to the question. he has done a very good job of educating his fellow constituents on the constitutionality of the

question. regarding the number of votes, i am not sure. jackie has worked very closely with that. >> we are constantly counting votes. i cannot give you my vote count at this moment in time. we know that we have sponsors of the amendment. cosponsors -- we are looking for more cosponsors at this moment. we have republican leadership that says the letter to the leadership saying that the bill must pass. we believe that those are good strong supporters for us. the congresswoman was here earlier, we are hoping to lead the charge to make sure that we have similar support in the senate.

we need to continue to increase those numbers so that the shilling that we have will prevail in the house. as the president said, definitely one of the questions is -- it is how do we, well, i guess for me it is a challenging question. the tribal courts -- many of archival courts look just like other people's courts. we put protections in the bill. bill. we put protection so that even though we have the indian civil rights act, that there is a jury of peers. we put in protections to make sure that if these responsibilities are taken on to have a non-native in their court system under the violence against women act, that they would have defense.

someone who has chosen to live in our communities. one who is living in our communities. lives and works there on a regular basis. they have agreed to live within that community. those are the things that we know that are already in the bill, the protections. and we believe that those things have address any questions they may have. we continue to work with members of the leadership in house to be able to refine the bill. to make it into a a point that is important. so that we can get it passed. but it's really important to us that our sovereignty is recognized and archival systems are recognized. that we can address perpetrators in our community that violate our women and our children. >> [inaudible question] >> characterizing the gap?

>> [inaudible question] >> you know, there is a gap. but i am actually very confident that the gap is closing. but the gap is not unachievable. i believe there is a strong leadership that we have with tom cole and congressman darrell issa. the list goes on of folks who support us. but there leadership will stand firm on this issue. i believe if we go to a vote on this issue in the house, we will win. [applause] >> just in case on the program, sticking with the role of exercise in our summer nights, how do you feel the effectiveness of tribal government health care compares

with the ihs direct government care? >> let me just say that it is obvious that self-determination works. we talk about self-governance and the ability of tribes to contract or operate their own health care programs. the success of that cannot be disputed. we have over 330 tribes that are self-governing. they operate their own health care facilities, or at least parts of those facilities and programs. i can give you an example of how it works. prior to 1994, the chickasaw nation had an ihs hospice. all of our care was the direct service types.

it was directly provided by the indian health services. quite frankly, it was unacceptable. now, it doesn't mean that it wasn't good quality care. it is simply meant that it was not being operated with we felt like it should. so with my tribe, we have contracted that facility, that hospital. that grew into operating entire health care program. we changed the philosophy of outpatient care to family practice care for we had a medical doctor who establishes a relationship with a patient and their family. it is great to see the same doctor over and over again. not taking a chance on a contract offer from somewhere. it changed the complete look and

feel of our health care. the quality of our health care rose quickly. now it is one of the best health care programs in the country anywhere. particularly about the quality of health. it's not just the quantity, but the quality. when you look at a tribe being able to operate. the question we must ask ourselves is who would you rather have making a decision on your health care priorities. your tribal government or some bureaucrat? it makes no sense. [laughter] you know, if you think about it, we understand how to operate our programs. we try to approve them. proving that we can do more with

less. tribes have proven that they can operate the facilities, the needs, and they care personally. >> you have a common on this? >> sure. earlier this year we issued a statement that we stand with our brothers and sisters in our federal tribal governments in canada. in that statement we said that there is an invisible line that separates the two nations. we did not create outline. some of our people live on both sides of the border. we support the right to

self-government. there is a difference in how the assembly of first nations works, although we mirror each other in a number of ways. the assemblies of first nations have a direct relationship because they receive funding and support from the medium parliament. we are an organization made up of tribal governments to come together for a common purpose. we support their issues. we support them in their desire to become more self-sufficient. this nation to nation relationship with her federal government. we are not saying that we are

different. but we have different issues and different directions, but we do support our canadian brothers and sisters. >> i would like to thank those who have sent questions online. rest assured that we will answer them back. other questions including but i didn't get to. i would like to thank you for listening and being a part of this address. on behalf of the national congress of the american indians, i would like to thank the radio stations across the country in our online viewers for realizing the importance of covering this event today. thank you. [applause] [inaudible conversations]

[inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] >> on the next "washington journal", we will talk about energy and climate issues with marsha blackburn of tennessee. a member of the budget and energy and commerce committee. we will also be joined by chris

murphy, a connecticut democrat, to discuss gun control vocational training and manufacturing. "washington journal" is live on c-span everyday at 7:00 a.m. eastern. >> he thought she was the smartest person he ever knew. he knew how much she loved him. he knew that she would tell him the truth. she wasn't going to sugarcoat. one of the tapes that i love the came out is the one where she was analyzes speech and he asked her to do it. but she was really tough on him. >> she said no, i think you should do this or that. and he would tell me all the time, your mother has the best

judgment of anybody. you should always listen to your mother. he was just devoted to her. >> remembering lady bird johnson on 100th anniversary of her birth. part of a three-day presence weekend on sunday night at 730 on c-span3 in american history tv. defense secretary leon panetta spoke honoring former secretary of state hillary clinton. he credited her with inspiring the decision to expand the role of women soldiers in combat. chairman martin dempsey and hillary clinton also spoke. this is 40 minutes.

♪ ♪ ♪ [national anthem] ♪ ♪ [national anthem] ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ >> please be seated. ladies and gentlemen, the 18th chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, general martin dempsey.

[applause] >> secretaries, those dedicated civilian officers and our guests today from the department of state, happy valentine's day. you know, laura martyrdoms says that saint valentine was actually martyred because he was marrying soldiers who were forbidden to marry. by the roman law the day. he was a man who loved soldiers and servicemen and women. and it is fitting in that regard that we are here to honor our recent and great secretary of state, hillary rodham clinton, who herself has been an enormous champion of military servicemen and women and their families.

it is my privilege to honor one of our nation's most dedicated public servants. this is the highest award that i can present to a civilian. the secretary is no stranger to awards. we know that he has eight honorary degrees, a george marshall george marshall foundation award from a wood where wilson award for public service, an airport named after him, and 11 straight years is the most admired in the world. and a grammy. she has a grammy for her book, it takes a village, and was named as the irish-american of the year. now i am really jealous. [laughter] your favorite secretary of state

. you both have similar grounds with roots in new york state. faithfully serving presidents that were once your rifles. of course, our secretary has flown enough miles to circle the globe 36 times. in fact, you have been airborne for the equivalent of 87 days during your tenure of secretary of state. that is a lot of airplane time. [laughter] along the way you have been an exceptional representative of the men and women of the department of state, working tirelessly in the aftermath of the arab spring and to ensure that we have a strong coalition in libya. including unprecedented sanctions in iran. for those of us in uniform, we are very much appreciative of it so that we can avoid the use of force, although we will do so if

necessary. and strengthening the institution of the department of state. you have recognized that there are limits and that we need both power that is hard and soft. harnessing innovative ways, including social media and global townhouse. all the while, remembering that it is the investment of your personal time the builds relationships. you have been won, as i said at the beginning, one of the staunchest supporters of the military. in my personal experience, more than any secretary of state in my career. i expect he will slow down a bit. maybe you can add a tony or an oscar to your grammy award. the. [laughter] before you go, i would be honored if you would allow me to add to the list of your distinctions with the award of this joint staff medal of honor.

>> the general will now present secretary clinton with the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, joint civilians distinguished service award. attention to order. secretary hilary rodham clinton, distinguished herself by exceptionally superior service while serving as the secretary of state from jiri 21st, 2009 until february 1, 2013. throughout her tenure, secretary clinton has significantly provided outstanding support of all operational effort of the joint military forces worldwide. executing first mark our strategy of combining military strength with the united states capacities and global economics, to development related technology. she enhanced the coordinator role of diplomatic and defense initiatives in the international arena. capitalizing upon this effort, she instituted the first diplomacy and developmental review for her department that mirrored the military's defense

review, resulting in a consolidated interagency approach to all foreign endeavors. her success in cultivating a more powerful department of state, a larger international affairs budget, an expanded role in global economic issues facilitated the role of our combatant commanders and the respect of our military troops on every continent. visiting more than 100 countries and logging more than 500,000 miles of travel, she has been an exceptional example of our nation's commitment to fostering better relations abroad and directly supporting our developed troops in those areas. most noteworthy, as evidenced in all of her years of federal service, she has consistently been an advocate of all personnel programs and initiatives that have enhanced the lives of our military personnel and their families. distinctive accomplishments of secretary hilary rodham clinton reflect great credit upon himself and the joint staff and the department of defense.

[applause] [applause] >> thank you. [inaudible conversations] >> please be seated. ladies and gentlemen, the 23rd secretary of defense, leon panetta. [applause] >> thank you very much for the

great honor to be able to recognize this very special person. although readers of the department, friends, colleagues, distinguished guests. we are so lucky to recognize someone who is a dear friend who us. someone that i have been working with and working for over last 20 years. a strong and dedicated partner of the department of defense, and i believe without question, a great person of public service in our time. this is a great valentine's day present for us here at the department. the second best valentine's day present would be to allow sylvia

and i to get the heck out of town. [laughter] [applause] i feel like it's groundhog day around here. [laughter] as first lady and the united states senator from new york, and as the 67th secretary of state, hillary clinton has been a stalwart advocate for the u.s. military. that is really why we are honoring her today. she has been a champion of our service members and veterans. she has been a forceful voice for american leadership in the world. we are honored to be able to

honor her the highest award of the department. the highest award that we can dispel. as i said, i am extremely proud of my association with hillary over these last two decades. about 20 years ago last month is when i first joined the clinton administration as director of the office of management and budget. it was a different world then. think of all the key political challenges that we had back then. partisan gridlock, budget deficits. on second thought, the only thing that has changed is that hillary and i are a little bit older and perhaps a little

wiser, a little less patient, particularly with political dysfunction. a little less tolerant of b.s. in general. and it is probably a good thing at this point in time that we have a chance to get some rest. [laughter] she has made it. hopefully in a few days i will have as big a smile as she does. [laughter] i have a hard time, you know? i have my office but is packed up, philia is packing at home and i am ready to go. it's just like, okay. all right.

[applause] for the four years that i have had the honor of serving in the clinton administration as director of omb and his chief of staff, i had the opportunity to work with her in a close way. she was interested in the issues, involved in the important issues. obviously, health care and women's rights and children's rights and all of the issues that she truly fought for and pioneered. not only during that time, but through most of her life. i saw firsthand her knowledge and passion for the issues that we deal with. the issues that we confront in this country. obviously you can study these issues and read about these

issues. but the only way you really deal with the problems in our society and the problems that people face and try to find a way to help people achieve a better life, that is what i saw in her. a passion to want to do that and help her fellow citizens. for all of these reasons, i've been truly delighted to have the opportunity when i was asked to join the obama administration, to come back and be alongside of her again as part of his national security team. as part of that team, i witnessed early on how hard she works and how dedicated she is and how she truly developed, i think, one of the best

diplomatic skills as a secretary of state of anybody that i have known in our capacity. she had the understanding to see the problems that people are facing. she had the ability to connect with the leaders of the world. to understand the challenges and the issues that they had to confront. it takes that because you have to be -- you have to be a human being in these jobs. you cannot be a robot. you can't read the talking points. you have to have a sense of what others are facing area also who they are and what they are about. what worries them. having worked with president clinton, one of the greatest capabilities that he had was to always make other world leaders

understand what was in their national interest. not what is in the interest of the united states, but their interest. hillary clinton had that same capabilities. to make others understand what is in their interest. that is what made her so effective. in my pastoral as the cia director, she was someone who understood the importance of intelligence and intelligence operations. understood the importance of doing everything to be able to go after those who attacked our country on 9/11. as a senator, she saw the terror of that moment firsthand. you know, she had never lost sight of the fact that we had to go after those who attacked us on 9/11 and use every capability that we have. she was always there supporting

our mission and operations, and i appreciate that support. particularly during the bin laden operation. they there is a movie out on us. the guy who plays me is not quite right. [laughter] i mean, my preference would have been someone else. [laughter] but the truth -- i've been asked about that. the fact is that i lived through that operation. there is no way you can take 10 years of all the work that has been done, even in the last four years or two years after that operation i was involved with. there is no way you can take that and put it into a two-hour movie. the fact is there was a

tremendous amount of teamwork involved, both by intelligence and military officials. they did a tremendous job working through all the issues. it ultimately came down to a very tough position that the president had to make. god bless him, he made a very tough decision. but i can tell you that hillary sitting in that room, sitting in the national security council and trying to work through all the issues, a lot of different views and opinions, but she was always there. i deeply appreciate her support for that effort. it has been even more rewarding to become the secretary of defense. to develop a close partnership the state department.

as someone who has been in and out of washington for the last 50 years. i know from personal experience that rivalry can hurt the relationship between the department of state and the department of defense. that kind of rivalry is bad for both departments in the country. because you really do need a strong partnership between the state department and the defense department. there is too much at stake. you have to work together. you have to put your egos aside. you have to work together on the issues that you have to confront. to do that is indispensable to america's national security. because of that, during the time that we work together, hillary and i did all that we could to sustain the tightest bond between ourselves and our

department. together we have dealt with some very tough issues. we have dealt with a lot of the threats confront the country across the world. we have taken part in some tough debates and discussions on the hill at the white house, involving afghanistan and diphtheria and terrorist attacks, and even on our own defense strategy. including the whole issue of asia-pacific rebounds. we have also traveled to some of the same meetings with foreign counterparts. here and overseas, the nato summit, the australian ministerial, state visits, i don't think too many people recognized how long meetings and sleepless travel and tough

questioning can bring two people together. because most of the time you are trying to figure out where the heck you are at. you are walking in circles. you have to look at each other and say that we now have to face up to what we have to do to try to deal with the situation that confronted us. in all of those discussions, hillary has always brought us back to earth. with the right argument at the right time. her ability and the end to be very pragmatic about what it takes to get something done is, i think, part of her genius as a leader. the ability to cut through it and listen to all of the arguments. cutting through it to make a decision has to be made. she is honest, forceful, a

persuasive voice for doing what is right for the american people. we have fought opposite sides of the issues. i would sure as heck rather have her on my side and be against me. she is so good in making her arguments. more often than not, she and i have stood side-by-side in making our recommendations on the president faces difficult choices in the middle east. because of her leadership, our nation's diplomats and development experts are working toward a common mission with the men and women of the department of defense. i am confident that our successes will sustain the bonds we have built between the department of defense and the state department. personnel are putting themselves at risk from afghanistan to north africa, the middle east to the asia pacific. making great personal sacrifices

in order to prevent conflict and help achieve the american dream. the dream of giving our children a better life. that dream has been the dream of hillary clinton. today, the department of defense recognizes her for her great work in helping all of us to better defend this nation and to provide a better life. my time in and out of government, hillary clinton is one of the most passionate and dedicated public servants that i have had the privilege to serve alongside. she has devoted her life to expanding opportunities for everyone and to build a better future for this country and world. because she believes that everyone deserves a chance to fill their dreams and their aspirations. in many ways i must tell you that it was her inspiration that

encouraged me to move forward and to be able to bring down the last barriers for women in the department of defense, to give them the ability to have a chance to engage in combat, and i thank you for that inspiration. seven years ago, the only person to serve as secretary of state, secretary of defense, george marshall, was honored with the nobel peace prize. he accepted the award only months after the armistice on the korean peninsula. he reflected that a very strong military posture is vitally necessary today. but it is too narrow a basis on which to build a long enduring peace. he went on to say that perhaps the most important single factor

will be a spiritual regeneration to develop goodwill and good faith and understanding among nations. there must be with them and the will to act on that wisdom. today, just 70 years ago, it is now clear that we need to maintain a strong military force to deal with the unstable and unpredictable and undeniably dangerous world that we live in. but it is equally clear that we must enhance our other key levers of power. our economics, our diplomatic power. if we are to truly achieve peace in the 21st century. delivering on that vision will require wisdom. it will require a will to act.

qualities that hillary has exemplified throughout her career as secretary of state. her legacy is the inspiration and the wisdom and the will to fight for the american dream. that is why we honor her today. ladies and gentlemen, hillary clinton. [applause] >> secretary leon panetta will now present secretary clinton with the department of defense distinguished medal a public service. attention to orders. the honorable hillary rodham clinton is recognized for distinguished public service as the united states secretary of state from january of 2009 until february of 2013. secretary clinton played an

indispensable role in formulating a great success, implementing the president's united states national security development policies in an era of dynamic shift in global affairs. applying an innovative and smart approach. secretary clinton led efforts to align emerging powers in developing partnerships to advance american interests and security and values. her strategic vision and steady hand guided the united states response to the global economic crisis. political changes in north africa and also the arab world and new opportunities and challenges in asia. she provided invaluable leadership and effort in iraq and afghanistan during the security transition in those countries. her transformative leadership elevated america's diplomatic role is able partners for dressing spectrum of security challenges and a strong relationship with the department

of defense. the distinctive accomplishments reflect great credit upon herself, the department of state, and the united states government. [applause] [applause] >> thank you, secretary leon panetta. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, the 67 secretary of state, hillary rodham clinton. >> thank you. thank you. [applause]

this is certainly a memorable valentine's day. i have to tell you that it is such an honor and privilege for me to be here with people that i admire and respect and like so much. secretary leon panetta, chairman dempsey, all of the military and civilian leaders alike. thank you for what you do every day keep our nation safe and strong. it has been a real pleasure for me to work with all of you. starting out with secretary gates and chairman mullen, now working with secretary leon panetta, chairman dempsey, and let me also thank the vice chairman. you have been such great partners and colleagues. it has been a singular honor of my life to be able to work with all of you.

to try to do what we can in a time of such momentous change and even turbulence to chart a steady course for the nation that we serve them up. i would also like to thank my traveling companions, admiral harry harris and general paul selva. some may not know that paul and harry had to fly all over the world with me. secretary gates and secretary panetta as well. i am still trying to figure out why they were able to get off the road and switch places during my four year tenure. that whenever there was a problem with the plane or any other issue that arose, i would always turn to them to help us fix it. harry came through time and time again to get us back. i am grateful to you. i would also like to say a special word of thanks and

greetings to my former colleague on the state department who is here. it is bittersweet, as i have said to them before. the senior leadership at the state department over the last four years is really responsible for all of the great and kind words that were said about me. they work seamlessly. not always in agreement, but always getting up every day to work towards our common objective with the dod senior leadership here today. i would like to thank my friends and colleagues with whom i have served over the last four years. ..

until he actually does leave the building. but what he said about humanity, about eating a human being and he throws is worth repeating. it is easy to get so caught up in the work and the intent to date, the drive necessary to work those long days and short night, that it is sometimes to these he to forget why we do

what we do, both military and civilian. for many of you, it has been a career choice. both my colleagues from the defense department and from state. for others advised, it is something we came to later and were involved in likely they gave us a chance to serve. but for all of the, remembering why we do this work and how important it is to the future, especially future generations is obtained leon panetta has never forgotten. and i know it's leon dies eventually had back to california, he will, along with his absolutely wonderful wife, sylvia, continue to use the panetta institute to train up the next generation of leaders. i also want to say a special word of thanks to chairman

dempsey. i really juried working with marty dempsey. our men and women have no greater champion and it has been for me a great treat, getting to see him in action and also to meet you, as i said to you in the hall, d.c. with your grandchildren coming out of the easter egg roll year-to-year growth. it is no secret, or if it has been, historically the departments of state have not always had the best working relationship. in fact, i have been quite surprised and amused in talking to some of my former predecessors who are bewildered that we get along and he say things,, as if i am somehow

letting down my side, and that i am not causing you as many problems as they can, trying to push you off stage as if that were possible. i have been around this time that it is an unfortunate to do my part to do that. not the state department and, not the partisan team. i like being on the american team. and when we take this position and that oath of office, we really pledge to be part of the american team. we have different ways, different experiences we bring to the table is that we say that, but we should walk out of those terms, determined to be on that team for our country and for the president reserved.

so from day one, we have formed the strongest partnership in most living memories and i do hope that continues. secretary gates and sherman mullen set the tone by emphasizing the importance of fully funding the state department and usaid, quite a remarkable position for secretary of defense and chairman of the joint chiefs to take. secretary gates, before i was secretary, made quite an important speech, talking how they were mormon as a military band and we have to increase the strength of our diplomatic corps in our development expert in order to do our part. secretary panetta and chairman dempsey had can you need to build our partnership even further. they been steadfast advocate for integrating the three d's of our national security, defense,

diploma and development into a unified smart power approach and because of these efforts, diplomat and develop the next rates are working more closely than other all of our soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines, advancing the transition in afghanistan or the triple disaster in japan are pursuing terrorists and north africa, we have seen that america is stronger and more effect on her together. i think we have come a long way to restore america's global leadership and make progress on some of the great challenges we face from taken the leadership of al qaeda to reasserting the united states as a pacific power and we have pioneered a nimbler, more effective approach to foreign policy. so i am enormously proud of what we have achieved and i'm confident about the future having left the state department

in capable hands of secretary john kerry, himself an accomplished diplomat decorated navy veteran. so i believe we have established a strong base for this kind of collaboration, which i think is essential and going forward against the challenges and threats that we face. i have been of growing up in a navy household. during world war ii, my father is a chief petty up sir, training soldiers before they were picked up to the pacific. he sits on my brothers and me how i felt watching this young man get loaded knowing that many would never return home. after he died, many years later, i received an outpouring of letters and photographs are men he trained, who is served and returned home in the lives and families of their own. i just couldn't believe that

experience, being yelled at them i thought there so four-minute for a time when i was glad to hear it, frankly. i saw this same sense of dedication and duty when i first lady and senator from new york, i visited the servicemembers and families all over the world. in his honor to serve on the armed services committee and work closely with men and women throughout this building and in particular, secretary mchugh had become a great partner with me on behalf of their military bases and personnel in new york. what we did to keep moving forward in improving readiness and modernizing capabilities, i was so impressed by the reviews that i did lunch and effort it they call it the development

review and now four years as secretary of state and send it, but my appreciation for everything you do is deeper than ever. i've had the chance to visit with many forces overs ease, sometimes in the company of some of you in the audience today, especially of course in afghanistan, but also here at home from hawaii to norfolk to annapolis. this past may i had the chance to go to tampa and speak to a special operations conference sponsored by admiral mccray then i had the chance to think them for their remarkable service and talk about the complex and crosscutting tribe we face, that we do have to keep innovating and integrating. but have to get our house at home in order. we have to avoid devastating

self-inflicted wounds. we have to remain committed to the global leadership and core values of freedom and opportunity. leon and i have both seen this as he travel the world. american leadership. there is no precedent in history for the role we play or responsibility we have shouldered. there is also no alternative. i often remind myself that are global readership is not our birthright. it has to be earned by each successive generation. staying true to the values in living up to the best tradition of our nation. secretaries and presidents come and go, but this responsibility means constant. it surely must be our northstar. 70 years ahead, we will be

looking to all of you and to your successors to carry this mission of american leadership forward, to keep our nation strong, free and exceptional. so thank you for this tremendous honor that has been the doubt on me by the chairman and also the honored by the secretary. i thank you all for your service and i think both of you and others here today for your friendship. let's wish our country godspeed and please extend to all the time you surf, gratitude, not if they retired public official, but as an american citizen. thank you all. [applause]

>> ladies and gentlemen, please remain standing for the departure of the official party. please remain in place until your roads in a two d. part. [applause]

>> gene dodaro discuss details of this review during a house oversight and reform hearing. it's an hour and 45 minutes.

>> a year and will come to order on exploring gao's high-risk and opportunities for reform. we on the oversight reform committee exists to secure two fundamental principles. first, americans have a right to know the money washington takes from them as well spend in second, americans deserve an efficient and effective government that works for them. our duty and that government oversight and reform committee is to protect these rights. our solemn responsibility is to hold government accountable to taxpayers because taxpayers have a right to know what they get from their government. our obligation is to work tirelessly in partnership with citizen watchdogs in the gao to deliver thanks to the american people and bring genuine reform to the bureaucracy. today we are having their broadest oversight hearing that we have been anyone congress.

that's because the gao's report is in fact on all spending of government and all risky government and in fact is the most important report published. each two years, general joe dario and his staff assess all risk to the government and the risk in dollars, but 07 the likelihood of successful for your. this risk produces the top highest threats. it also recognizes the success that sometimes occurs because of the gao and this committee's efforts to work with government to reduce waste and mr. government. this year, that one account with us $261 million or 7% total spending in fraud and waste.

i might note that when you annualized that for a decade eyes, that represents $2.6 trillion, about twice what we are looking up for sequestration. the 30 areas on the high-risk list represent tremendous opportunities to save billions of dollars and i might repeat, if we were able to save just half of what we raise, we would no sequestration at all. as we are going to your today, this area is six and from the department of defense to our weather system. from alleman related to great storms such as superstar and c&d seeing the fact this simple, mundane medicaid, medicare per

programs in important ways. the truth is in identifying high-risk areas isn't enough anymore. it is clear many areas on the high-risk or perennial high-risk. 17 areas have been on the list for more than a decade. six have been on that list inception. i don't expect overnight to fix dod procurement. i don't expect overnight to take medicare, now becoming our largest total expense and the click seen the recipients of oso social security and individual spending, i don't expect to fix it overnight. our committee and other committees of congress have an opportunity to attack each of these areas.

our commitment is to make those improvements. i am pleased to see a particular emphasis on the program of medicare and medicaid, which are permanent fixtures that in fact is an area of particular opportunity for reduction and waste with the affordable health care act and the growth of recipients. the committee has just voted on a bipartisan basis on the report related specifically to new york date during the dialogue would mention it equally outlandish problem that existed in the state of texas. these billions of dollars can no longer be tolerated. we must find them not after decades of waste and abuse, but in fact in real-time. this committee will have before it during this congress and

updated version of the bipartisan data act. it will have an updated version on a bipartisan basis. these and other systems responsible for change will create the opportunity to save money in i.t. procurement and deliver better information to decision-makers. it also will create greater transparency for congress and all the watchdogs of waste and abuse. so as we begin this hearing today with eric's comptroller general, we realize this to say to work for us to do if this list is to be successfully attacked and reduced. i look forward to working on the legislative issues in the oversight issues with my part or, the ranking member, mr. cummings, why recognizers opening statement.

>> this'll be one of the most hearings. mr. dodaro, i thank you for testifying in for the work put into creating this report. i ask that you extend the gratitude of this entire committee for the hard work of the folks at gao. as i said earlier in a press conference, they have earned a reputation for outstanding inaccurate work that helps our government function better. so we can see thank you to them. everyone high-risk report has been important. however, this year's report is especially significant because the general and the nonpartisan expert at gao have made a landmark decision to have the issue of climate change their

pay annual report, which details the most pressing challenges facing our nation and federal government. in the report, gao identifies a serious risk facing our nation, one that we cannot continue to ignore. gao funds the climate change poses significant financial risk to our nation's economy, aquaculture, infrastructure comic ecosystems. gao warned that our government is not in a position to address this fiscal exposure in gao recommends the government by strategic approach with strong leadership and authority to manage climate change rose. the government has spent tens of billions of dollars on severe than related to climate change. according to the national oatmeal neck and atmospheric

administration, over the past two years, the unit date has experienced 25 weather disasters that caused every billion dollars each. gao's decision to let climate change lives of high-risk challenges facing our nation is a wake-up call for congress to finally start addressing this very, very critical issue. unfortunately, in the last congress, house republicans voted seven times to block action to address the threat of climate change. for example, this last kind of change research funding to more than $100 million devoted to prevent the state department from using funds to send a special on by for climate change to negotiations. the intergovernmental climate change world's leading authority in climate change science voted

to prohibit the department of homeland security from using funds to participate in the the climate change passwords. they voted to pray that our culture to implement climate change program. what gao is telling us today that congress cannot afford to delay action in the longer. we must ask not to implement recommendations to mitigate there is. i sent a letter to chairman hyde said today, requesting our committee hold a series of hearing to address each specific area relating to climate change. in an earlier press conference, made a very good point and that is perhaps we should look at what responsibility states are playing with regard to climate change and what responsibility

they should have and i'm hoping that if they said earlier, maybe we'll have governors to common and talk about their responsibility and things they are doing to prepare for weather problems that might affect theirs be. mr. chairman, when we were here two years ago can hearing gao's last high-risk report in 2011, he said it's our committee's obligation to conduct rigorous oversight of issues raised to assist on plans to change each of the agencies with you today. i agreed then and i agree now with our extremely wide multiple federal agencies and apartments have a very unique opportunity to conduct hearings will lead to vigorous oversight, responsible funding decisions and legislations to address growing threat in our economy.

as the president noted the other night in his state of the union, we have seen in the last 10 or 15 years, just an onslaught of weather related problems and i am hoping that we all worked together closely to prepare for the fiscal impact of those problems and with that, i said ready, willing and able to work with the chairman and with that i got that. >> i thank the gentleman, and as we did discuss commodity to pick up the first hearing related to that risk and i look forward to scheduling that hearing i'm also suggesting other committees of jurisdiction to their oversight related reciprocally to the serious. and with that, we now recognize her at first but is in the panel behind them. i'm pleased to welcome the honorable gene dodaro,

comptroller general of the united states. he also comes with a small sampling of his team of experts or the united states government accountability office is here today and i'll try not to mess up your names, but if you drive so the audience can know that he came with a tremendous amount of expertise. chris mann as managing director of strategic issues at the gao. mark gaffigan is managing director of resources and environment at the gao. cathleen berrick is managing director of homeland security and justice issues that the gao. philip herr of infrastructure issues at the gao. orice williams brown is managing director of financial markets, an area particular concerns in

committee investment at the gao. and mr. david powner is managing systems at the gao. i'm now going to ask about to stand because if you're going to help the general come you may very well be a witness. would you please raise your right hand and pursuant to the committee roasts, please raise your right hands. do you solemnly swear or affirm the testimony about to give up the truth, whole truth and nothing but the truth? let the record reflect the witnesses answered in the affirmative. normally we have the five-minute clock. for your reference will have it. if you've an overcoming of the whole show today. sachin come you recognize. >> thank you, mr. chairman. wing commander cummings, members of the committee, i'm pleased to be invited today to talk about

the high-risk list the day. we do the update is noted every two years at the beginning of each new congress in order to identify areas we believe are at highest risk of waste, fraud abuse and mismanagement are in need of broad-based reform. i'm very pleased to report that this committee so tonight as she ate her support, mr. chairman and committee members of oversight since our last trip word and 2011, the notable progress has been made in the vast majority of areas on the high-risk list. this has been due in part to legislation passed by the congress. for example, the fda authorization act to address many issues gao recommended for improvements to oversight of medical products and devices. for example, dealing with drug shortages and also increased

inspections, this based upon not grecians. congress pass important legislation concerning the flood insurance program also on our list. also, a libyan agencies have been holding meetings with gao, which i personally participate in order to focus on solutions then identify ways to make the necessary improvements to get off the list. this year enough progress has been made that we're removing two items from the list. first is interagency contracts. interagency contracts can be a good import management with john properly. we found back in 2005 they were not done well. they were out of scope in terms of the contracts, lack of competition. one of our most notable example is this hiring of interrogators using an i.t. contract. since then, important procedures have been in place at the congress has required

acquisition regulations to be reformed for procurement decisions and also requiring a business case before new interagency contracts are put in place and better data now collected in those areas. so we believe there's adequate mechanisms in place in order to help manage this very tool to help the government leverage its buying power. secondly, we removed the high-risk business system modernization originally put on a 1995 due to the rsb admired with management on technical problems with modernization effort. is just a ploy of the first module of the system which allows its daily updating taxpayer account, which will improve taxpayer service and of course meant that to reduce the flow. we reviewed their investment

management practices and found that 80% the best practices in project management recommendations. the promote it now has been rated as a computer maturity model level three under standards, which means a stick of bubble by industry. two important points, one, we continue to monitor areas off the list. they're not out of sight. so make sure the progress engaged is enduring. secondly, like other areas eventually a flutist because of two major reasons. oversight in congress insisted on portland farms, required to do continual reviews in the gao

review. continue to oversight can pay enormous dividends in resolving many problems. two new areas we are adding this year. one is limiting fiscal exposure for better managing climate change risk. it's clear the number of disasters have gone in 2004 and 65 to 98 and 2012, which is a record number of years. there's these indications the weather of them at the those in global change management research program, that there'll be more events occurring and more cost liaison. the federal government has enormous exposure to these risk. first, some of the largest property holders and the

government or in the nation. hundreds of thousands of buildings the federal government owns and defense installations on our coastlines. also the federal government holds 29% of the part b in the united states and manages to property. also the programs which we've recommended take into account climate science issues and revamping programs. we found government is the provider of disaster aid. over $80 billion in the past year and before the assistance for hurricanes can be. we found entertaining and a disaster is an artificially low level per person per state. so when a disaster that exceeds the threshold has federal assistance and has not been

adjusted for inflation for a 13 year period of time. the federal government would have intervened in 25% last situations in terms of the federal government deciding to involve. we recommend the program is a strategic plan for syria to assess priorities to the investment decisions. individuation sees the lance, but no overall central direction and priorities set for that area and coordinate at the federal level over the state and local government. mr. chairman come you make a point this morning it's very important they provide technical information on weather-related issues to guide investments in huge amounts of infrastructure. the federal flood insurance programs need to be reformed that better criteria that takes

into account the federal government's fiscal condition right now. the last area we added on the list is gaps and weather satellite information due to management problems and acquisition problems over the years. right now the cat's in the satellite that provide early midday and afternoon warning to feed computer weather prediction models and to provide the three, four and seven at work has has the potential for a cab to occur as early as 2014 and could last a 53 and a. this is very important. without that information, one credible organization has said the information from the polar orbiting satellite, the prediction of the path for superstar and sandy would've shown up going out to see and not hitting new jersey at all. without this critical

information, their property that its economic consequences and so are adding this area to our high-risk list. our recommendation contingency plans have been developed, the need to be monitor properly and congressional oversight could be very beneficial and necessary in this area. so that concludes my broad overview of the major changes on the list. first 30 items that remaining and i'd be happy to answer questions. >> i now recognize myself for a few quick questions. my understanding from your report is the fda has not been solved this problem of making responsibility for availability, the guy continues to be an area in which the american people cannot count on both generic antibiotics or chemotherapy drugs being improper supply based on this failure. is that correct wakes

>> they still have to step up and make changes in order to do that. congress has given him authority to have jet manufacturers know them in advance of shortages that is a very important step that prior gao recommendation. but they must follow through and once they have information, they must take action. were going to continue to monitor that situation, mr. chairman. there is also variously pointed out were they need to make sure they do post-market studies to make sure that because i don't prop early as well. both those areas are on the radar screen. >> i appreciate that. your concern on fha is that because the issue effectively zero down loans, similar to the ones that got us in trouble with friday cna, after the closing

price, that any reduction in home values, even short-term could put fha in a similar duration. is that correct? >> the financial situation is precarious and there's high risk, capital reserve ratios, so we've added it to the list to highlight that and also the fact result in the freddie mac and fannie mae situation and taken a lot of conservatorship, which the congress still has to. modernizing on the list that fha situation needs to be taken into account with an integrated set of activities that are so that we don't increase the risk even further to fha. >> summarized a few of the way i heard it. you don't fix freddie and fannie and i see pics fha at the same time. they are all subsidized or

opportunities that could lead to the federal government putting up billions of dollars again if anything goes wrong. >> that's exactly right. so with the federal government's proper role should be in the housing market. >> if i understand correctly when you set by not indexing this dollar 36 cents per capita of a 25% but not even made to this. effectively you're saying they've shifted 25% more things, which are in constant dollars state responsibility onto the federal back and that's a substantial amount of dollars. is that correct? >> that's correct, mr. chairman. we've recommended feed that take into account state's capability to be able to pay there as well and they've agreed with the recommendation, the congressional follow-up withheld.

>> and i guess lastly along the same line, if in fact we continue to see water levels rise around her coast line, which represent about half of our state, effectively you've looked at federal installations as one of the risk areas. in other words, we need to build and plan both naval and other military installations and settle property based on the assumption that, if you will, things change and where you build one, two, 300 years ago, some are just that, revolutionary. need to be planned and essentially an internal zoning that the federal government begins making decisions the debate likely changes in water levels in storms and so on. >> yes, definitely.

the defense department has recognized this list and in fact congress recognizes the bigger waters act this past year and seen that before was prohibited from taking into account corrosion over time and now congress has required that be included in further efforts on the flood insurance program. >> at the flood insurance portion, my understanding is both of our major insurance programs are not running a way in which the private that they would run their insurance, meaning we don't adjust every to meet the likely payout. instead, they are fixed in time so they can year after year come up short, ultimately shifting to the taxpayer response ability for insurance by the insured. >> that's correct. we recommend these better

practices. the results haven't been provided to the congress. the flood insurance program even before superstore and sandy of the federal government over $20 billion. the likelihood of that getting repaid is not high. >> a certain closing that say they could be ensured for less than the risk, i would always write that insurance. i recognize the gentleman in maryland for his questions. >> thank you, mr. chairman. when they go to page two of two of your report, we talk about shortages. i went to pick up on some things the chairman is asking you about. you know, we did some preliminary research and notes in today's area of drug shortages. tried several life-saving drugs, chemotherapy drugs. one of the things we found in our research was that we had a

market where a child might start out costing $7 of file and by the end of the week, because of the market may be signed for $700 a vial. we had an opportunity to talk to doctors from all over the country. as a matter of fact, when doctors in south carolina came in and she is at a major medical facility and she says, sadly we are performing medicine lake were in a third world country because of shortages. so it is a major, major area. i'm just wondering, did you look into the gray market situation, where people are improperly coordinating job and jacking up the cost so we've got hospitals,

the american hospital association now say 99% of their house but does have a truck shortages? i mean, did you look at that at all? or did she look from an fda standpoint? >> we primarily looked at it from a monetary standpoint. i can go back and doublecheck. i'll provide something for the record. >> you may want to look at that because you've made some very good comments to your on page 202. but we also i think just look at it from an fda standpoint is perhaps, i mean it's good, but if we have an underlying cause of greedy people on a daily basis, taking drugs out of the hands of a hospital grants number one in the world, in my

district, they told me they and they can't have the best jokes possible to treat her constituents because people are hoarding them in putting them on the market in check in and up 100 times. that's a major problem that goes to our economy of course. it checks that the cost of medicine. it's a detriment to many constituent. would you give me something back on that to let me know how deep he went to the? one of the things the chairman was saying, making a part of our scope of the next two years is looking not only at the fda piece of this, but looking out this whole thing of the gray market. i really like to sit down with you if you haven't delved into it and see what manipulative do

together to try to get to the bottom of that because it is a very serious problem. a lot of a lot of americans do not even know about it, but it's very serious. how to very briefly go to this whole issue of climate change. the federal government has a number of efforts underway to decrease domestic greenhouse gas emissions. the success of greenhouse gas emission reduction efforts depends in large part on cooperative international affairs. however, limiting the fiscal exposure to climate change risk will present a challenge no matter the outcome of the domestic and international efforts to reduce the emission. in part because greenhouse gases already in the atmosphere will continue offering the climate system for many decades. if i understand this correctly, carbon emissions in our atmosphere already altering the climate system and will continue

to do so for the foreseeable future. is that correct? >> based on information from the global climate change research program in national academy of sciences, that's correct. >> is of the opinion regardless of appreciation is to reduce emissions come in the united states government should take action to mitigate the risk posed by the climate change? >> yes. >> you're the president's testimony where he's talked about catastrophic incident seeming to come at a greater pace than costing us billions upon billions of dollars. as you close with my questioning, tell us which you are recommending again for us to do with regard to these catastrophic types of things, storms like sandy costing us so

much in such an inconvenience to her citizens. >> several things. one, the federal government is to be better organized with a coordinated effort with the strategic plan and focus on priorities. the program is very spending a lot of money on these areas, but not well coordinated and targeted perjury case. that's number one. particularly important where we have to make every dollar count, we have to make the best investments possible. second, each partner state and local government to provide them better weather related information. it already making huge investments of their own money and infrastructure. in terms of figuring out how to do with roads, bridges, tunnels, et cetera for proper interpretation of science data and make those decisions is very poured in. need to get our act together on

our crop insurance programs and make sure this bill properly and we need to look at how we provide them with the criteria is for when we intervene in disaster assistance or whether it should be a state and local responsibility. >> thank you, mr. chairman. >> the chair now recognizes the gentleman of florida, mr. mica for five minutes. >> thank you. and please her committee is looking at gao's 2013 high-risk list. this list is probably a good template for looking at ways in which we could have dramatic savings. right now we are packed tightly bankrupt, approaching extinct by $5 trillion in debt. i was wondering, sir, if you could tell me this list is pretty extensive. it's a little bit of good news to shared out the list. when you estimate tens of billions of dollars in savings

from the recommendations in these high-risk areas he provided. >> is true. >> i think that's why it's so important our work continues. only focus him on this one report that her committee has produced, and billions of dollars in medicare misspent, everyone should read that. tens of billions of dollars of wasteful spend name. programs out of control, a program medicare important to provide this to need health care in new york alone tens of billions of dollars outlined here. have you seen this report, sir quiet i hope you do and would confirm that. i chary small government operations at committee, particularly interested in managing federal bill property.

researcher testifies to others that we have attempted to the building structures for vegas property owner in the world properly. 29% above the property in the united states is either owned or managed by the united states according to the report. is that correct? >> were going to do some hearing and will probably start with the high-risk list you provided us, managing federal property. i then added a week or two. withstanding as we did a little bit of this and the transportation committee. nobody has control. i was in real estate. i think the less upset ever give anything to manage would be the federal government, including assets. fuji tv real estate rss to the federal government? >> only with great many

conditions. >> zero, we went out and looked at the million square feet of space in springfield and i just looked at it from a management standpoint he got a million square feet, and a lot of acreage in springfield, virginia, not well utilized. does anyone look at specific properties with a management plan are the best utilization of that asset or realization of taxpayer dollars? >> been encouraging federal oversight over that issue. >> i don't see it. i could go through that as a property manager to have that valuable asset there might've made since 20 years ago, but not today. the other day we went out and looked at nearly 7000 acres in maryland, mr. cummings. we have an agricultural research center dating back from the

turn-of-the-century. 500 buildings of which there were 230 there need to be demolished or unusable. what stunned me is there's no plan for utilization of either the acreage for facility. do you know they planned or do we have any mechanism to even require an agency to have a plan to do with those assets? >> we've made recommendations along those lines. one day we found when we get the type of inspections are talking about doing, the data didn't match the database. >> is the first member of congress to go up there. nobody has a clue. i mean, there is an incredible asset sitting there. in fact, prohibitions have been put on doing anything, which is mind-boggling again from somebody who stilton real estate

in the air. we are going to work with you to see if we can't get out of these agencies to plans to maximize those assets and utilized them. you point out in your report here lost $200 million since 2005. again, it's only a quarter of a billion here and there, but we are bankrupt team donations or policies in part this is an lack of attention to maximizing asset. we'll be back. i think were going to do this february 27. work with the minority to set a date and launch a the morning that's on this report. we thank you and others for working with us. go back. >> the chair now recognizes the generally from district of

columbia, ms. norton. >> thank you, mr. chairman. mr. dodaro, what do you think he would do so is an illuminating the court, but friday in chronic change for the first time as a risk for the federal government. this has come at a time when it could not be more needed. we needed an objective government agency. climate change is not political in the may apolitical after unrest. i recall the last two congresses dealing with hundred year flood. kind of silly thing to even think about calling it now. even as we did label it and force states to update how they go about preparing for flooding, we recognize it is a term

assenting to make people understand what was regarded as a rare event, at least in terms of flood. we've gone from rear to retain and to unheard-of. sadly, after sandy, that was a very contentious debate in your about what to do. part of that comes to me and predict the ability of a gene for such event. nothing of the kind in memory has been seen by new york state, so there's no way to plan for that and certainly no way to budget for that. it was so unusual it would take another sample shortly after that the latest snowstorm that went up to new england and then had a wind current that

resembled a hurricane, preparing for that. and yet, in a mason which are highly vulnerable with the assistance they gave, dependent of the state, emergency aid in the rest. it's very, very troubling. one of my questions goes to come its easier to predict a recession or a downturn in the economy than it is to predict one of these events. we see flowers growing in the wintertime we don't know whether it's springtime weather worries those are. and so finally, the country, which on climate change was first discussed, maturity of the american people said yes, we think there's climate change and something has to be done about it. the last 12 or 18 cents per days a come back in the public on an

understanding of climate change in during the recession that they no longer believe in when it comes to science. i need to know from you, you know how our budgets are developed. i accept what she say about coordination of federal agencies and the rest, but i have to ask you, mr. dodaro, how do you budget for the unfathomable and avoid partisan debate when they come out? i heard numbers from new york who had never seen the disaster. somebody from mississippi got up and opposed it. that's one part of the country that does not need to get up on its hind legs about this issue because we've readily come forward time and time again.

i say hopefully you look at it is to use an example by voting for some tornado words unheard of. i don't accept the present budget process is that all responses to this new world of climate change. i wonder if you could give us hope on how to go about in a budget in which we live, making the scents available wherever they occur, rather quickly without contingent debate we had here over sandy. >> there are two things i was paid. first, we should not pretend disasters do not occur in our budgeting process, which right now we do not budget for anything that might occur. there is an historical here that shows of the time, should we